Capacitive touch panel

ABSTRACT

An integrally-formed capacitive touch panel is disclosed including: a singular lens substrate, a mask layer, and a sensing circuit integrally coupled with said singular lens substrate. Said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, and said sensing circuit are integrally formed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Prior application Ser. No.12/371,983, filed on Feb. 17, 2009, which claims priority fromTW97202841, filed on Feb. 18, 2008 by the present inventor, thedisclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a touch panel, especially to a capacitive touchpanel assembled with a display panel.

2. Description of the Related Art

Most electronic devices, such as PDA, palm-sized PC and informationappliance, have a touch display panels. The touch display panel includesa lens, a display panel and a touch panel arranged between the lens andthe display panel. In the prior art, the lens and the touch panel areseparately formed on different substrates, which are usually glasssubstrates. The lens and the touch panel are then laminated to form atouch module. The touch module is further stacked up with and attachedto the display panel to form the touch display panel. A user can touchobjects displayed on the touch display panel with his or her finger or atouch pen to input information or perform an operation.

Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventionaltouch display panel. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the prior art, a touchpanel 6 is disposed between a display panel 2 b and a lens 5. A blacklayer 51 is provided on the periphery of a lower surface of the lens 5.The black layer 51 is stuck to the periphery of the upper surface of thetouch panel 6. There is a stick layer 4 c disposed between the blacklayer 51 and the touch panel 6, as shown in FIG. 6. For the conventionaltouch panel 6, conductive layers are formed on the upper surface of aglass substrate 61. The conductive layers include at least a lowertransparent conductive layer 62 and an upper transparent conductivelayer 65. The conductive layers may include but not be limited to anindium-tin-oxide (ITO) material. A transparent insulation layer 64 isformed between the upper transparent conductive layer 65 and the lowertransparent conductive layer 62. On each periphery of the uppertransparent conductive layer 65 and the periphery of the lowertransparent conductive layer 62, a metal trace 63 is formed respectivelyfor transmitting signals thereon. The black layer 51 is arranged tocover the metal traces 63 so that the metal traces 63 are not exposedwhen viewed from above the lens 5 for prettifying the appearance of thelens 5. A transparent overcoat 66 made of insulation material (such assilicon nitride, silicon dioxide, etc.) is formed above the uppertransparent conductive layer 65 to prevent the upper transparentconductive layer 65 from being scraped and damaged. The coordinates of aposition that has been touched on the touch panel 6 is obtainedaccording to detection of an induced current corresponding to acapacitive generated between the transparent conductive layers 62 and 65and the human body.

The display panel 2 b may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) formedby providing a liquid crystal layer 24 b between an upper glasssubstrate 22 b and a lower glass substrate 26 b. An upper polarizingplate 21 b is provided on a top surface of the upper glass substrate 22b, and a transparent conductive layer 23 b is provided between theliquid crystal layer 24 b and a bottom surface of the upper glasssubstrate 22 b. A lower polarizing plate 27 b is provided on a bottomsurface of the lower glass substrate 26 b. Another transparentconductive layer 25 b is provided between the liquid crystal layer 24 band a bottom surface of the lower glass substrate 26 b. The upper glasssubstrate 22 b and the transparent conductive layer 23 b form an upperglass electrode substrate. The lower glass substrate 26 b and thetransparent conductive layer 25 b form a lower glass electrodesubstrate. The display panel 2 b and the touch panel 6 are laminatedtogether with a stick layer 4 b disposed between them.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the liquid crystal layer 24 b is sandwichedbetween the upper glass electrode substrate and the lower glasselectrode substrate. Driven by an electric field between the upper glasselectrode substrate and the lower glass electrode substrate, the liquidcrystal molecules contained by the liquid crystal layer 24 b are twistedto determine whether light from a light source can pass through.Further, the liquid crystal display displays a colorful image using acolor filter for the upper glass substrate 22 b. A user then may see animage from the top of the lens 5. The user then is able to perform anoperation or input information by touching the lens 5 with theindication conveyed by the image.

As described above, in the prior art, each of the lens 5 and the touchpanel 6 is formed on a glass substrate separately and individually,wherein the glass substrate 61 of the touch panel is individually shownin FIG. 6. After separate and individual fabrication, the lens 5 and thetouch panel 6 are then laminated. Each of the lens 5 and the glasssubstrate 61 of the touch panel 6 is made of same glass material, whichincreases the consumption of glass material in production of the touchdisplay panel. Besides, the assembling process is very complex and timewasting, and it is easy to generate defective products during thelamination process. Furthermore, the thickness of the touch displaypanel is hard to reduce for both the lens and the touch panel adopt theglass substrates.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a capacitive touch panelthat can alleviate the aforementioned disadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide an integrally-formedcapacitive touch panel which has a low cost, a high yield rate and asimplified assembling process.

Another object of the invention is to provide a integrally-formedslim-type capacitive touch panel.

An exemplary embodiment of the integrally-formed capacitive touch panelis disclosed comprising: a singular lens substrate having a firstsurface and a second surface, a mask layer, and a sensing circuitintegrally coupled with said singular lens substrate. Said singular lenssubstrate, said mask layer, and said sensing circuit are integrallyformed.

An exemplary embodiment of the integrally-formed slim-type capacitivetouch panel is disclosed comprising: a singular substrate having a topsurface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface, amask layer, and a sensing circuit. Said mask layer and said sensingcircuit are integrally formed on the bottom surface of said singularsubstrate.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electronic device with acapacitive touch panel of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a touch display panel including acapacitive touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a touch display panel including acapacitive touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a touch display panel including acapacitive touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a touch display panel including acapacitive touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a touch display panel according to theprior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electronic device with anintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel 1 of the invention. Thecapacitive touch panel 1 is assembled in a shell 3 of the electronicdevice, as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing thecapacitive touch panel 1 disposed on a display panel 2 according to oneexemplary embodiment of the invention. In the present invention, thecapacitive touch panel 1 includes a singular substrate 11, a mask layer12 and a sensing circuit 13. The singular substrate 11, the mask layer12 and the sensing circuit 13 are integrally formed. Therefore, there isno need to adopt other substrates for the integrally-formed capacitivetouch panel 1, and there is no need to perform lamination in theassembly of the present touch panel as required in the conventionaltouch module. The details are illustrated as below.

The singular substrate 11 may be made of glass material to form asingular lens substrate. The singular substrate 11 may be otherwise madeof plastic material, which includes but is not limited to rubber andebonite. The singular substrate 11 includes a top surface 111 forreceiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface 112 of thesingular substrate 11.

The mask layer 12 is integrally formed on the bottom surface 112 of thesingular substrate 11, and the mask layer 12 may be a black resist orother opaque coating layer. A smooth layer 15 is provided on one side ofthe singular substrate 11, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In the fabricationprocess according to the present invention, the smooth layer 15 isprovided such that the lower surface of the mask layer 12 may besmoothed and the sensing circuit 13 grown thereon may be flatter. Theyield rate of the final product of the touch panel 1 can be enhanced inaccordance. The smooth layer 15 may be made of transparent organic orinorganic material. Please be noted that the smooth layer 15 is optionalin the present invention. The structure illustrated in FIG. 2 is onlyexemplary.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, part of the sensing circuit 13 is grown on abottom surface of the mask layer 12, hence, when viewed from above thesingular substrate 11, it appears that that part of the sensing circuit13 is “covered” by the mask layer 12. The exposed part of the sensingcircuit 13, that is, the part of the sensing circuit 13 that is notgrown under the mask layer 12, forms a sensing region 14.

The effective range of the sensing region 14 includes the area marked inFIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In the sensing region 14, the sensing circuit 13 isnot grown on the bottom surface of the mask layer 12 but on a lowersurface of the smooth layer 15. According to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, a shielding layer 16 may be provided on thebottom surface of the singular substrate 11, and the mask layer 12 isgrown thereon. The shielding layer 16 may prevent noise signals.

The sensing circuit 13 may be formed by coating, exposing, developingand etching. In one of the exemplary embodiments, the sensing circuit 13includes a conductive electrode 131. The sensing circuit 13 may furtherinclude a metal trace 132, as shown in FIG. 2. The metal trace 132 canbe arranged on the top surface of the conductive electrode 131. Pleaserefer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a touch display panelincluding a capacitive touch panel according to another exemplaryembodiment of the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a metal trace 133is arranged on the bottom surface of the conductive electrode 131. Themetal trace 132 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and the metal trace133 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are both “covered” by the masklayer 12 from a view above the singular substrate 11. Because from abovethe singular substrate 11 the metal traces 132 and 133 are not exposed,the appearance of the singular substrate 11 is improved.

The conductive electrode 131 is usually made of transparent conductivematerial (such as indium tin oxide (ITO)). An overcoat 17 (as shown inFIG. 2) is coated on the lower surface of the sensing circuit 13. Anadhesive layer 4 is provided between the integrally-formed capacitivetouch panel 1 and the periphery of the display panel 2. In one exemplaryembodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the adhesive layer 4 is provided betweenthe overcoat layer 17 and the display panel 2, while the overcoat 17 maybe omitted in other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, andthe adhesive layer 4 is directly arranged between the sensing circuit 13and the display panel 2.

According to the present invention, when the top surface 111 of thesingular substrate 11 receives a physical tactile input, the conductiveelectrode 131 in the sensing region 14 outputs a capacitive sensingsignal corresponding to the touched position for a capacitive effect isproduced by the physical tactile input received by the top surface 111of the singular substrate 11. The capacitive sensing signal istransmitted along the metal trace, 132 or 133, to a processor (notshown) for detecting/calculating the coordinates of the touchedposition.

In the present invention, within the touch panel, the lens and thesensing circuit share the same singular substrate and are integrallyformed. Thus, substrates conventionally utilized for the lens and thetouch panel separately can be reduced. Therefore, the bonding andlamination process in the conventional touch display panel fabricationcan be simplified. The cost and time for producing the touch panel canbe reduced and the touch panel can also be of a slim type design.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the capacitive touch panel 1 aassembled on a display panel 2 a according to another embodiment of theinvention. The capacitive touch panel 1 a includes a singular lenssubstrate 11 a, a mask layer 12 a, a first sensing circuit 13 a, aninsulation layer 18 a and a second sensing circuit 19 a. According tothe invention, the singular lens substrate 11 a, the mask layer 12 a,the first sensing circuits 13 a, the insulation layer 18 a and thesecond sensing circuit 19 a of the capacitive touch panel 1 a areintegrally formed.

The singular lens substrate 11 a may be made of different transparentmaterial. The singular lens substrate 11 a includes a top surface 111 afor receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface 112 a.

The mask layer 12 a is provided on the bottom surface 112 a of thesingular lens substrate 11 a. The mask layer 12 a may be a black resinor other opaque coating material.

The first sensing circuit 13 a is grown on the singular lens substrate11 a and the mask layer 12 a. The smooth layer 15 a, made of transparentorganic or inorganic material, is provided on the singular lenssubstrate 11 a in some of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention such that the first sensing circuit 13 a grown thereon may beflatter. Please note that the smooth layer 15 a is optional in thepresent invention and may be omitted in different embodiments. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, partial of the first sensing circuit 13 a isgrown on a bottom surface of the mask layer 12 a, hence, when viewedfrom above the singular lens substrate 11 a, it appears that that partof the first sensing circuit 13 a is “covered” by the mask layer 12 a.The exposed part of the first sensing circuit 13 a, that is, the part ofthe first sensing circuit 13 that is not grown under the mask layer 12a, forms a sensing region 14 a. When a physical tactile input isreceived by the top surface 111 a, the first sensing circuit 13 a mayoutput a first axial sensing signal and the second sensing circuit 19 amay output a second axial sensing signal in accordance.

The insulation layer 18 a is provided to insulate the first sensingcircuit 13 a and the second sensing circuit 19 a. The two sensingcircuits 13 a and 19 a are orthogonal to each other. Therefore, theinsulation layer 18 a is used to electrically insulate the first sensingcircuit 13 a and the second sensing circuit 19 a. The insulation layer18 a may be fully distributed between the two sensing circuits or onlyin some area to prevent the contact of first sensing circuit 13 a andthe second sensing circuit 19 a in the intersection area.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, ashielding layer 16 a may be provided on the bottom surface of thesingular lens substrate 11 a, and the mask layer 12 a is further grownthereon. The shielding layer 16 a may introduce prevention of noisesignals. In some exemplary embodiments, the width of the shielding layer16 a may be equal to the width of the mask layer 12 a.

In one of the exemplary embodiments, the first sensing circuit 13 aincludes a conductive electrode 134 a. The first sensing circuit 13 amay further include a metal trace 132 a arranged on the conductiveelectrode 134 a. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the metal trace 132 a may bearranged on the top surface of the conductive electrode 134 a. Pleaserefer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a touch display panelincluding a capacitive touch panel according to another exemplaryembodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the metal trace 133 amay be arranged on the bottom surface of the conductive electrode 134 a.The metal trace 132 a in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and the metaltrace 133 a in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, when viewed from above(e.g., above the singular substrate 11 a) are both “covered” by the masklayer 12 a. Because when viewed from above the singular substrate 11 a,the metal traces 132 a and 133 a are not exposed, the appearance of thesingular lens substrate 11 a is improved.

The second sensing circuit 19 a includes a conductive electrode 134 b.In one of the exemplary embodiments, the second sensing circuit 19 a mayfurther include a metal trace 132 b arranged on the conductive electrode134 b. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the metal trace 132 b may be arrangedon the top surface of the conductive electrode 134 b. In anotherexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the metal trace 133 b may bearranged on the bottom surface of the conductive electrode 134 b.Similarly, the metal trace 132 b in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 andthe metal trace 133 b in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 are both“covered” by the mask layer 12 a when viewed from above the singularlens substrate 11 a. The metal traces 132 b and 133 b are not visuallyexposed when viewed from above the singular lens substrate 11 a.

An adhesive layer 4 a is provided between the capacitive touch panel 1 aand the display panel 2 a. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4,an overcoat 17 a is selectively further included and integrally formedon the bottom surface of the second sensing circuit 19 a. As shown inFIG. 5, the overcoat 17 a is omitted, and the adhesive layer 4 a isdirectly bonded to the second sensing circuit 19 a and the display panel2 a.

According to the present invention, when the top surface 111 a of thesingular lens substrate 11 a in the sensing region receives a physicaltactile input, each of the conductive electrode 134 a and the conductiveelectrode 134 b outputs a capacitive sensing signal corresponding to thetouched position, respectively. The capacitive sensing signals aretransmitted along the corresponding metal traces to a processor (notshown) for detecting/calculating the coordinates of the touchedposition.

In the present invention, within the capacitive touch panel, the lens,the mask layer and the sensing circuit share the same singular substrateand are integrally formed. The mask layer and the sensing circuit may beformed on the same side of the singular substrate, as illustrated inprevious exemplary embodiments of the invention. However, in the presentinvention, it is possible to form the mask layer and the sensing circuiton the opposite side of the singular substrate. In other embodiments,the sensing circuit of the present invention may be coupled with thesingular substrate and/or the mask layer. In still the other embodimentsof the present invention, the mask layer and the sensing circuit may beintegrally formed on the bottom surface of said singular substrate.According to the present invention, the substrates conventionallyprovided for the lens and the touch panel separately can be reduced.Therefore, the lamination process in the conventional touch displaypanel fabrication can be simplified. The cost and time for producing thetouch panel can be reduced, and the size of the capacitive touch panelcan be reduced.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the invention being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrally-formed capacitive touch panel,comprising: a singular lens substrate made of glass, said singular lenssubstrate having a top surface for receiving physical tactile input anda bottom surface; a mask layer formed on a periphery of said singularlens substrate; and a sensing circuit integrally coupled with saidbottom surface of said singular lens substrate, wherein: said sensingcircuit and said mask layer are integrally formed on said bottom surfaceof said singular lens substrate, a first part of said sensing circuit iscovered by said mask layer, a second part of said sensing circuit thatis not covered by said mask layer forms a sensing region, and saidsensing circuit comprises: a first sensing circuit; an insulation layer;and a second sensing circuit, wherein: said singular lens substrate,said mask layer, said first sensing circuit, said insulation layer, andsaid second sensing circuit are integrally formed, said insulation layeris only present in one or more areas where said first sensing circuitand said second sensing circuit overlap to prevent contact of said firstsensing circuit and said second sensing circuit, there is no othersubstrate laminated or bonded to said singular lens substrate of saidintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel, said first sensing circuitcomprises a first conductive electrode and a first metal trace, saidsecond sensing circuit comprises a second conductive electrode and asecond metal trace, and said first conductive electrode and said secondconductive electrode are made of transparent material and located insaid sensing region.
 2. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel ofclaim 1, wherein said sensing circuit is coupled with said mask layer.3. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein saidmask layer is formed on said bottom surface of said singular lenssubstrate.
 4. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 3,wherein said mask layer is made of black resist.
 5. Theintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, further comprising:a shielding layer formed on said periphery of said singular lenssubstrate, wherein said shielding layer is positioned between saidsingular lens substrate and said mask layer.
 6. The integrally-formedcapacitive touch panel of claim 5, wherein a width of said shieldinglayer is substantially equal to a width of said mask layer.
 7. Theintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein said masklayer covers a first area in which said first metal trace is located anda second area in which said second metal trace is located.
 8. Theintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 7, wherein said firstmetal trace and said second metal trace are formed on a surface of saidmask layer.
 9. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1,wherein at least one of said first conductive electrode or said secondconductive electrode outputs a capacitive sensing signal correspondingto a touched position for a capacitive effect produced by said physicaltactile input on said top surface of said singular lens substrate. 10.The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 9, wherein saidcapacitive sensing signal is transmitted along at least one of saidfirst metal trace or second metal trace to a processor fordetecting/calculating coordinates of said touched position.
 11. Theintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, further comprising:an overcoat integrally formed on a surface of said sensing circuit. 12.The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein saidintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel is capable of being disposed ona display panel.
 13. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel ofclaim 1, further comprising: a shielding layer formed on said peripheryof said singular lens substrate, wherein said shielding layer ispositioned between said singular lens substrate and said mask layer, andwherein said mask layer is formed on said bottom surface of saidsingular lens substrate through said shielding layer.
 14. Anintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel, comprising: a singular lenssubstrate made of glass, said singular lens substrate having a topsurface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface; amask layer formed on a periphery of said singular lens substrate; and asensing circuit integrally coupled with said bottom surface of saidsingular lens substrate, said sensing circuit is integrally formed onsaid bottom surface of said singular lens substrate, a first part ofsaid sensing circuit is covered by said mask layer; a second part ofsaid sensing circuit that is not covered by said mask layer forms asensing region, and said sensing circuit comprises: a first sensingcircuit; an insulation layer; and a second sensing circuit, wherein:said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, said first sensingcircuit, said insulation layer, and said second sensing circuit areintegrally formed, said insulation layer is only present in one or moreareas where said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuitoverlap to prevent contact of said first sensing circuit and said secondsensing circuit, there is no other substrate laminated or bonded to saidsingular lens substrate of said integrally-formed capacitive touchpanel, said first sensing circuit comprises a first conductive electrodeand a first metal trace, said second sensing circuit comprises a secondconductive electrode and a second metal trace, and said first conductiveelectrode and said second conductive electrode are made of transparentmaterial and located in said sensing region.
 15. An integrally-formedcapacitive touch panel, comprising: a singular lens substrate made ofglass, said singular lens substrate having a top surface for receivingphysical tactile input and a bottom surface; a mask layer formed on aperiphery of said singular lens substrate; a sensing circuit integrallycoupled with said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate; and asmooth layer disposed between said singular lens substrate and saidsensing circuit, wherein: said sensing circuit, said mask layer and saidsmooth layer are integrally formed on said bottom surface of saidsingular lens substrate, a first part of said sensing circuit is coveredby said mask layer, a second part of said sensing circuit that is notcovered by said mask layer forms a sensing region, and said sensingcircuit comprises: a first sensing circuit; an insulation layer; and asecond sensing circuit, wherein: said singular lens substrate, said masklayer, said first sensing circuit, said insulation layer, and saidsecond sensing circuit are integrally formed, said insulation layer isonly present in one or more areas where said first sensing circuit andsaid second sensing circuit overlap to prevent contact of said firstsensing circuit and said second sensing circuit, there is no othersubstrate laminated or bonded to said singular lens substrate of saidintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel, said first sensing circuitcomprises a first conductive electrode and a first metal trace, saidsecond sensing circuit comprises a second conductive electrode and asecond metal trace, and said first conductive electrode and said secondconductive electrode are made of transparent material and located insaid sensing region.
 16. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel ofclaim 15, wherein said sensing circuit is coupled with said mask layer.17. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, whereinsaid mask layer is formed on said bottom surface of said singular lenssubstrate in said periphery of said singular lens substrate.
 18. Theintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, wherein saidsmooth layer is made of transparent organic or inorganic material. 19.The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, furthercomprising: a shielding layer formed on said periphery of said singularlens substrate, wherein said shielding layer is positioned between saidsingular lens substrate and said mask layer.
 20. The integrally-formedcapacitive touch panel of claim 19, wherein a width of said shieldinglayer is substantially equal to a width of said mask layer.
 21. Theintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, wherein said masklayer covers a first area in which said first metal trace is located anda second area in which said second metal trace is located.
 22. Theintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 21, wherein said firstmetal trace and said second metal trace are formed on a surface of saidmask layer.
 23. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim15, wherein at least one of said first conductive electrode or saidsecond conductive electrode outputs a capacitive sensing signalcorresponding to a touched position for a capacitive effect produced bysaid physical tactile input on said top surface of said singular lenssubstrate.
 24. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 23,wherein said capacitive sensing signal is transmitted along at least oneof said first metal trace or second metal trace to a processor fordetecting/calculating coordinates of said touched position.
 25. Theintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, furthercomprising: an overcoat integrally formed on a surface of said sensingcircuit.
 26. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15,wherein said integrally-formed capacitive touch panel is capable ofbeing disposed on a display panel.
 27. The integrally-formed capacitivetouch panel of claim 15, further comprising: a shielding layer formed onsaid periphery of said singular lens substrate, wherein said shieldinglayer is positioned between said singular lens substrate and said masklayer; and wherein said mask layer is formed on said bottom surface ofsaid singular lens substrate through said shielding layer.
 28. Anintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel, comprising: a singular lenssubstrate made of glass, said singular lens substrate having a topsurface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface; amask layer formed on a periphery of said singular lens substrate; asensing circuit integrally coupled with said bottom surface of saidsingular lens substrate; and a smooth layer disposed between saidsingular lens substrate and said sensing circuit wherein: said sensingcircuit and said smooth layer are integrally formed on said bottomsurface of said singular lens substrate, a first part of said sensingcircuit is covered by said mask layer; a second part of said sensingcircuit that is not covered by said mask layer forms a sensing region,and said sensing circuit comprises: a first sensing circuit; aninsulation layer; and a second sensing circuit, wherein: said singularlens substrate, said mask layer, said first sensing circuit, saidinsulation layer, and said second sensing circuit are integrally formed,said insulation layer is only present in one or more areas where saidfirst sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit overlap to preventcontact of said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit,there is no other substrate laminated or bonded to said singular lenssubstrate of said integrally-formed capacitive touch panel, said firstsensing circuit comprises a first conductive electrode and a first metaltrace, said second sensing circuit comprises a second conductiveelectrode and a second metal trace, and said first conductive electrodeand said second conductive electrode are made of transparent materialand located in said sensing region.
 29. An integrally-formed capacitivetouch panel, comprising: a singular lens substrate made of glass, saidsingular lens substrate having a top surface for receiving physicaltactile input and a bottom surface; a mask layer formed on a peripheryof said singular lens substrate; and a sensing circuit integrallycoupled with said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate,wherein: said sensing circuit and said mask layer are integrally formedon said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate, a first part ofsaid sensing circuit is covered by said mask layer, a second part ofsaid sensing circuit that is not covered by said mask layer forms asensing region, and said sensing circuit comprises: a first sensingcircuit; an insulation layer; and a second sensing circuit, wherein:said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, said first sensingcircuit, said insulation layer, and said second sensing circuit areintegrally formed, said insulation layer is only present in one or moreareas where said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuitoverlap to prevent contact of said first sensing circuit and said secondsensing circuit, said first sensing circuit comprises a first conductiveelectrode and a first metal trace, said second sensing circuit comprisesa second conductive electrode and a second metal trace, and said firstconductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are made oftransparent material and located in said sensing region.
 30. Anintegrally-formed capacitive touch panel, comprising: a singular lenssubstrate made of glass, said singular lens substrate having a topsurface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface; amask layer formed on a periphery of said singular lens substrate; and asensing circuit integrally coupled with said bottom surface of saidsingular lens substrate, wherein: said sensing circuit is integrallyformed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate, a firstpart of said sensing circuit is covered by said mask layer; a secondpart of said sensing circuit that is not covered by said mask layerforms a sensing region, and said sensing circuit comprises: a firstsensing circuit; an insulation layer; and a second sensing circuit,wherein: said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, said firstsensing circuit, said insulation layer, and said second sensing circuitare integrally formed, said insulation layer is only present in one ormore areas where said first sensing circuit and said second sensingcircuit overlap to prevent contact of said first sensing circuit andsaid second sensing circuit, said first sensing circuit comprises afirst conductive electrode and a first metal trace, said second sensingcircuit comprises a second conductive electrode and a second metaltrace, and said first conductive electrode and said second conductiveelectrode are made of transparent material and located in said sensingregion.